INDIA
AJK President Sardar Yaqoob Khan has requested the OIC to condition their relations with India on the resolution of the Kashmir issue. (Daily Dharti)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
In his article, Talhe As-Saif laments the demise of Syed Salis Ahmed who was a senior caretaker at the Markaz-Osman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur. He writes that Syed Salis Ahmed was always worried about fulfilling his duties sincerely towards the guests of Maulana Azhar Masood in Markaz. (Al Qalam Weekly, 3 August – 9 August)

POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
PM Ashraf hinted that the elections may take place early. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

At a parliamentary party meeting at the PM house, PPP members were very critical of ministers. PPP leader Noor Alam Khan accused ministers of being corrupt. He said that Rehman Malik had sold 5000 jobs; Malik said if the allegation is proved, he would quit. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

PML-Q President Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhary Pervez Elahi called on President Zardari and talked on issues related to their alliance. According to the Daily Pak report, Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain advised the President to form committees in all provinces for PPP-PML-Q seat adjustment for the next elections. Zardari assured them that committees will be formed before Eid. According to another report, PPP and PML-Q has come up with a new strategy for the next general elections. According to this strategy, PML-Q will fight on 50 seats for NA and 86 of its candidates will contest in Punjab. This Report states that both parties had agreed to form a strategy against PML-N. (Urdupoint, Daily Pak)

PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former Foreign Minister, said there was no surprise in the change of prime minister and claimed that it was done as a part of deal Zardari had with Gilani for change of guard after three years. He claimed that he was an eyewitness to their understanding. He said that the country had been held hostage because of one person’s ego; he said that democracy in the country was being jeopardized because of Zardari. (Ibrat)

After leaving PML-N, Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa and his son Dost Mohammad Khosa, along with other unhappy PML-N leaders have decided to join PTI or PPP. This report says that PML-N leaders from Jhelum will leave PML-N. (Khabrain)

Daily Pak’s edit refers to PPP core committee meeting held on Monday when it was decided to resist new centres of law making from emerging. Edit says that there is no doubt that only the Parliament has the right to legislate but the Parliament must also respect the power centres that is already in existence. (Daily Pak Edit)

ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
Sources say that a Korean company has signed an agreement with the Balochistan government for constructing a 300MW electricity production house. (Ummat)

Federal Minister for Water and Energy Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar has instructed the Energy Management Committee to carry out load shedding equally and provide relief to consumers. (Urdupoint)

AJK PM Chaudhary Abdul Majid claimed that AJK had the potential to produce 40,000 MW of electricity. Majid said that they had marked places feasible for hydel power production which would generate 10,000 MW. He also claimed that the feasibility study of one such location had already been carried out. (Ausaf)

Qurban Baloch says that following the decline of currents in the Indus and Chenab, IRSA has again given permission to draw 4000 cusecs of water from Indus and release it into Chenab through the Chashma Jhelum Link canal. Just a couple of days back, IRSA had halted this withdrawal. Following this decline in currents, it is likely that this withdrawal of water may be done from the Tarbela Dam or the distribution of water to provinces may be cut over the next 3 days. (Kawish, 8

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWAH (NWFP/FATA)
All over Hazara, including Oghi, Ramzan packages meant for peoples’ relief were being sold for thousands of rupees. (Daily Hazara News)

SINDH
PPP in Sindh has expressed concern over the non-registration of over 13 lakh voters in electoral rolls. (Ibrat)

BALOCHISTAN
Frontier Corps Balochistan has provided a telephone service to the relatives of missing persons. The relatives of missing persons can seek information about their relatives from this number at FC head quarters. (Nawa-i-Waqt)

Daily Intekhab criticizes the Cabinet Committee on Balochistan for cancelling its visit to Balochistan at the last moment without giving any further dates. Edit says that the Standing Committee had done nothing remarkable so far, but Balochistan is a very sensitive matter and hence, such a lacuna would only aggravate the problem. Edit says that the federation should not keep avoiding Balochistan and the problems of other provinces as it would only create more problems in the future. (Daily Intekhab Edit)    

POK/G-B NEWS
Gilgit-Baltistan CM Syed Mehdi Shah met President Zardari on Wednesday and discussed development projects going on in Gilgit-Baltistan including hydel energy projects. (Daily Pak)

As per Gilgit-Baltistan CM Mehdi Shah’s demand during his meeting with President Zardari, senior Police officer Mohammad Ashraf, who at present is working as DIG Intelligence in KP, is likely to be appointed as Gilgit-Baltistan IG Police. (Baad-e-Shimal)
At his meeting with CM Mehdi Shah, President Zardari issued instructions to release Rs. 1 billion immediately for Gilgit-Baltistan. (Baad-e-Shimal)

Chief leader of Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslmin, Sheikh Agha Bilal said that Gilgit-Baltistan government and law enforcement agencies have failed to control terrorist incidents. He commented that the purpose of terrorism in Gilgit-Baltistan was to create problems for China. (Baad-e-Shimal)

The contractors association continued its agitation in Gilgit for the second day against non-payment of bills and bounced cheques. (Baad-e-Shimal)

Baad-e-Shimal edit is on Public Accounts Committee chairman’s call for a strategy to legalize non-custom paid vehicles in Gilgit-Baltistan. The issue has been pending for the last 10 years and that the national treasury is the loser as a result.  (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)